Pennsylvania German housewives produced most of the textiles used in their homes. Hooked rugs were made by taking short pieces of yarn or cloth and pulling them through the mesh of a backing -- usually linen or burlap -- so that the two ends were on one
side. The loops could then be trimmed to determine the pile of the rug. The technique of hooking rugs lent itself naturally to a variety of colors and designs. Designs were outlined on the backing and filled in with dyed scraps. This hooked rug shows an
assemblage of stars, horses, birds, trees, circles, and crescents in a gay symmetrical arrangement. The rug is hooked on a burlap base while portions of the design are worked in cross-stitch. The bold colors used are characteristic of the Pennsylvania
German style.